29 Jul

By now you have undoubtedly heard about the â€œchanging zodiacâ€ and possibly even looked it up to see what your â€œnewâ€ sign is and what that means for you. What does this whole thing mean, though, and is it even real? And does it mean that we were all living a lie to begin with?

First of all, I know many Wiccans and Witches who do not go by the Zodiac and that is perfectly fine. Likewise, I know many people who follow astrology and are devout Christians/Jews/Buddhists, etc. So this blog entry doesnâ€™t just apply to my fellow Wiccans out there, nor should you feel like you have to read your horoscope if you practice magick.

While some are quick to say that the â€œchanging zodiacâ€ is a new buzz that is circulating the Internet, the concept has actually existed for awhile. I remember hearing about it years ago, back when a lot of people referred to it as a â€œconspiracy theoryâ€, for lack of a better phrase.

So why would your astrological sign be changing in the first place?

The short answer is that the stars that we see now are not aligned in the same manner that they were back in ancient times when the zodiac was first established. This is due to a form of â€œwobbleâ€ that the earth has when it spins.

With that in mind, weâ€™ve all slid back just a little bit. If you were an Aries, you are now a Pisces and if you were a Pisces, then youâ€™re now an Aquarius.

But I FEEL like a Pisces! Iâ€™m emotional, sensitive, a romantic, and feel drawn to water! Iâ€™ve looked up the characteristics for an Aquarius and I donâ€™t fit any of those at all!

If youâ€™re feeling that way right now then donâ€™t despair. It is highly possible that this theory has simply been misinterpreted. It is also possible that even before you heard of this theory, you never really felt like your sign to begin with.

I have a dear friend, for instance, whose birthday is a few days from the Pisces/Aries cutoff date. Technically speaking, she is a Pisces. However, she has always identified more with the Aries personality and feels no connection with any of the traits that are normally given to those who fall under Pisces. She attributes this to the fact that she was simply born a few days early and was MEANT to be an Aries from the beginning.

An argument does exist that while the stars influence the zodiac signs in a lot of Eastern cultures, they donâ€™t in the fundamental basics of astrology in the West. What? Isnâ€™t astrology ALWAYS based on the stars? By the very name of â€œastrologyâ€, doesnâ€™t that imply that we are basing at least part of it on something in the solar system.

That would make sense, of course, by the counterargument is that the astrology in the West is influenced by the seasons and is referred to as â€œtropical astrology.â€ Since the seasons arenâ€™t changing (unless you want to count global warming) it would suffice to say that your zodiac sign isnâ€™t changing either.

This is good news for all of those who donâ€™t want to have to get used to reading another horoscope.

On the other hand, most professional (and even some amateur) astrologists would argue that your personality isnâ€™t simply based on your sign. There are a lot of things to take into account, including your time of birth, your place of birth, and the position of all the planets at the precise moment of your birthing. If you have ever been to a very good astrologist you will find that they need a lot more information to do your chart than your simple birthday. They also need to know what time zone you were born in, the exact hour of your birth, and sometimes even what specific state or country you were born in. All of these things work together to give you a very unique chart.

You must also be careful about the power of suggestion. I know that it might sound preposterous to most people and you might even wonder why I would mention this, but even IF your zodiac sign were to change that wouldnâ€™t mean that your personality would have to. If you were always a little organized and showed a lot of leadership skills and were the first to stand at the call to attention, then you shouldnâ€™t suddenly start becoming sloppy in your work, abandoning your projects, and becoming untidy just because you hear that your sign is changing to a sign that fits those characteristics. You are who you are and while your zodiac sign might shed some light on your personality and help you understand important decisions, it doesnâ€™t dictate who you are.

On the other hand, if you do believe that the signs are changing, then you might feel some relief in the idea. Perhaps you always felt like a Virgo at heart, and now you understand why!

Brightest blessings,

Rose Ariadne
Your Warm and Caring â€œResident Witch In Chargeâ€

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22 Jul

Depending on where you live, the idea of going skyclad might sound preposterous. If you live in the middle of the city, with lots of neighbors and little more than a patio for a yard, then it might not be the best idea. However, if you live in the country with acres and acres of land than forgoing your clothing and performing a ritual outdoors in little more than your essential oils might be plausible.

I often have people ask me if I perform my rituals skyclad and while the conversation can sometimes be humorous I usually find myself realizing that few people truly understand the reasons for doing it in the first place.

If youâ€™ve ever had this conversation with someone, then you know how it might go. You might have someone lewdly ask you if you â€œperform spells nakedâ€ or you might find yourself in a conversation with someone really interested in the topic and your beliefs and truly want to know the â€œwhys.â€

So why do we do it?

Well, as a female, I think there is much power and sexuality in the female form, unclothed or not. While there have definitely been times that I have not been happy with my body, for the most part I do find the human body exquisitely beautiful and interesting. We are born naked and clothing changes so often when it comes to styles and whatâ€™s acceptable and what isnâ€™t that it really matters little in the scheme of things.

There are times when some practitioners feel very sensual and powerful when they perform a ritual skyclad. It makes them feel more at one with nature and the universe in general to be shed of earthly belongings and clothing.

Weâ€™re not entirely sure how it got started, or when, but more than likely it goes as far back as spirituality in general. Itâ€™s not just a practice that is shared by Pagans, either. In fact, ritual nudity has been performed by the Jains, a small sect of Hindu worshippers in India.

Hindus in general are very fond of animals for obvious reasons and it has been suggested that they occasionally went skyclad during ceremonies so as not to endanger even tiny insects that could possibly get caught within their clothing. This could be a joke, however. More than likely it was for the same reason that we do it-because without the outer layers one can sometimes be more receptive for the energies that one is trying to create and harness.

Some people believe that by removing clothing, youâ€™re more equal to everyone within your group. This might be so, but when youâ€™re alone does that really matter? Not really.

I believe it comes down to internal reasons. Psychologically, when you remove your clothing youâ€™re becoming more â€œopenâ€ and youâ€™re removing barriers. Albeit, you are removing physical barriers, but even then that can be psychological. The more open you are, the more receptive you can be. Even though you could technically achieve the same results with an Eskimo suit on, without the right frame of mind youâ€™re not going to be as successful.

If you donâ€™t feel comfortable going skyclad, then I would recommend that you not do it. Sometimes, vulnerability can make us more open. Other times, it can make us more closed off. If youâ€™re standing there with your nudity and youâ€™re completely focused on it and worried about someone seeing you then youâ€™re not really in the moment and the whole thing is going to be lost on you.

However, if you want to try it gradually and you are open to experiencing doing a ritual a different way, then exposing yourself in this literal manner might be beneficial to you.

Remember, that you donâ€™t have to go skyclad to practice Wicca. Itâ€™s not a requirement. You wonâ€™t â€œfailâ€ if you donâ€™t. However, different covens might have different ways of practicing and this could very well be one of them so this is something that you might want to be aware of.

While there are various reasons as to why some people prefer to conduct rituals in this manner, for some, they might simply like the way that the cool or warm air feels on their bodies. Thereâ€™s nothing wrong with that, either. Wind, after all, is one of the elements.

I wish you success and peace, no matter which way you choose to perform your spellwork and rituals.

Brightest blessings,

Rose Ariadne
Your Warm and Caring â€œResident Witch In Chargeâ€

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15 Jul

I was taking inventory of some of my belongings recently and decided that I really need to de-clutter. I love the idea of being very Spartan and not being tied to my belongings. On the other hand, I do love my stuff, too. Itâ€™s a constant battle.

The idea of â€œthingsâ€, however, got me to thinking about the different items and â€œpropsâ€ that many people use in Wicca and witchcraft. There are some people that have lots and lots of items that they use on a regular, if not daily, basis. There are other people who prefer not to use props and find that they seem to hold them down. There are some, too, that only use special items for special rituals.

While each practitioner is different in the way that they practice, there are a few things that are fairly common to beginners and advanced witches alike. So what are they and what are they used for? (And most of all, do you have to spend a lot of money on them?)

Your altar:
You will probably do the majority of your spellwork and rituals around your altar so therefore you might find that you devote the most time on it. Your altar is generally stationary and doesnâ€™t move around a lot so you can afford to keep quite a few things around it.

The altar itself doesnâ€™t have to be fancy. I knew someone who used one of those cheap TV stands as their altar. It functioned because the shelf underneath, where you would place the VCR, acted as a good storage facility, and since it was on wheels it was also mobile. You might want to have one built or it could be a special piece of furniture. It doesnâ€™t have to be expensive, but it shouldnâ€™t double AS a TV stand, either.

I always keep a selection of candles at my altar and re-stock up on them whenever I can. I keep my candles in a pretty box that stores nicely. You might wish to do the same. Your altar candle is your most important candle but you might want to keep a back-up one as well, just in case yours happens to burn out.

In another box, I keep my selection of gemstones and crystals. I found these really nice little satchets that hold the stones well. Some people have a lot of stones and have trouble remembering which one is which and write the names of the stones on slips of paper. Do this if it works for you.

I do know witches, however, that donâ€™t use gemstones for magick at all so this might not even apply for you.

A small cauldron can be very useful if you plan on using herbs, candle wax, or oils. It doesnâ€™t have to be expensive, but it should be fire resistant. I found a candle holder that was shaped like a cauldron once and I used it until I could find something else.

For special rituals I decorate my altar with flowers, foliage, leaves, and other things but these are not items that I necessarily have on hand.

Clothing:
If you ever go to a psychic fair or New Age convention you will probably see lots of booths selling a wide range of clothing. What are these and do you need them?

I know some practitioners that wear cloaks and other items of clothing because they make them feel more powerful. I say it depends on how youâ€™re feeling at the time. However, if you want to go skyclad, then a cloak can be an easy way to undress when youâ€™re outside.

Tools:

An athame might be something that youâ€™re interested in. This is a double-edged ritual knife, but itâ€™s not for sacrificing small animals. In fact, itâ€™s often blunt because itâ€™s more symbolic than anything else. Some use it to cut energy and direct energy and other things that a ritual might call for.

If you donâ€™t have an athame, then you can also use a ritual sword or even a wand if you wish. You can purchase a beautiful, expensive wand or you can make your own.

A bolline, on the other hand, is a little sharper and is used to cut branches, herbs, and anything else that might need actual cutting. It usually has a curved blade and a white handle.

â€œIngredientsâ€:

For lack of a better wordâ€¦Herbs, oils, and incense fall under this category and are very personal. These will vary according to the ritual and spell that you are performing. You might need a bowl to mix them in, or a cauldron to burn them in. Remember that that all oils are safe to drink so be very careful as far as this is concerned.

If you have no other items, then the one thing that you should possess is a Book of Shadows. This is a record of the spells and rituals that you have performed, thoughts that you have, dreams youâ€™ve dreamt, and any visions that might have appeared to you. Itâ€™s yours and yours alone.

Brightest blessings,

Rose Ariadne
Your Warm and Caring â€œResident Witch In Chargeâ€

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08 Jul

Dreams can be very magickal. These can provide us with visions about the future, but can also help us with the present and even offer us insight to the past. When we dream, we are allowing our subconscious to take a central role in our mind and weâ€™re letting down barriers that we often keep up during the day. Whether we realize it or not, we place filters on our imagination, our thoughts, and our emotions yet when we dream these tend to dissipate. Thatâ€™s a good thing.

Now, thatâ€™s not to say that all dreams are going to be important. Sometimes, dreams can merely be a compilation of foods that we ate, images that our brains recorded from television, shopping, or even driving down the road, and even from uncomfortable positions in bed.

I would venture to say, however, that for the most part dreams can be very telling and can be extremely important in helping us shed light on ourselves and the mysteries around us. Sometimes, we receive messages in dreams. Sometimes, we see things that we donâ€™t allow ourselves to see during our waking hours. We might even experience astral projections in our dreams, occasionally without even knowing it.

The trick is being able to recognize these things and to be able to do that, we must be able to remember what we dream about.

If you are not a person that can always remember your dreams, then there are some tips that might help you out. Just remember that they can take time to achieve so donâ€™t despair if you are unable to remember them on your first try.

1. Give yourself some encouragement.
Before you go to sleep at night, tell yourself that you are going to remember your dreams. Sometimes, all you need is a little positive encouragement in order to jog your memory. By telling your subconscious that you are going to be able to remember what it was that you dream about during the evening hours, you might just be able to train your mind to really do that.

2. Wake up slowly.
When you first hear your alarm clock ringing, your instinct might be to hit â€œsnoozeâ€ or to jump out of bed and start about your day. However, by not letting yourself wake up too quickly you are more likely to remain in that dream state. Turn your alarm clock off and spend the next few minutes lying in bed, thinking about your dreams. Do this slowly and without opening your eyes if possible. If you can remember your dream at this point, then go through as many details of it as possible. Go through the entire thing once or twice, until youâ€™ve gone over every aspect that you can remember. Youâ€™re far more likely to remember it if you take the time to remember all the details when they are still fresh than if you try to recall it later.

3. Keep a dream journal.
Keeping a dream journal by your bed is another good way of remembering your dreams. Even if the dream doesnâ€™t feel significant to you at the time, write it down. Donâ€™t just write down the details, however. Also write down how you felt, what you saw, what you were thinking about before you went to sleep, what you ate before you fell asleep, and anything else of interest. This can not only help you remember your dreams, but can also help you differentiate any patterns that might exist as well.

4. Avoid things that might altar your subconscious too much.
Certain medications that are designed to help you sleep, as well as alcohol, can not only affect what you dream but how you remember it as well. Try to avoid these things on nights when you are searching for a vision or wish to make contact with the spiritual realm. While some might claim that they are helpful in such matters, it can also be difficult to ascertain what is chemical induction and what is real.

5. Tell someone.
If you have a roommate or a partner, then tell them about your dream as soon as you can. They donâ€™t have to analyze it for you-itâ€™s the fact that youâ€™re saying the words out loud that will help you remember them.

6. Use herbal remedies.
There are some herbs that can be burned as incense or placed under your pillow that some people have luck with when it comes to remembering their dreams. These include mugwort, Valerian root, Fireweed, and kava kava.

I sincerely hope that everyone has pleasant dreams this evening and is able to find peace and contentment while doing so.

Brightest blessings,

Rose Ariadne
Your Warm and Caring â€œResident Witch In Chargeâ€

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01 Jul

In a lot of books and movies, emphasis is placed on spells that brings one money, power, love, and other good things. In the real world, however, more often than not our spells are a lot less glamorous and instead focus on small things that are important to us.

Since having children, I have found myself doing a lot of protective spells. I worry about my children constantly and since I know that I canâ€™t always be there for them 24/7 (although I would if I could!) I try to do things from time to time that will help me watch over them without my body being there physically.

So what are protective spells and how do they work?

Itâ€™s important to remember that there are some things that we simply canâ€™t avoid. As apparent, this is difficult for me to adjust to, but logically I know itâ€™s true. Still, there are many accidents that could have been avoided and some extra protection never hurt.

A good time to use a protective spell would be when you feel threatened yourself, when you know that you or your loved ones are going to be in a situation that requires extra caution, or when you have done everything humanly possible to avoid disaster and just need a little extra help.

For example, my oldest child recently went on a hike with a friend of the family. Now, I knew that he wouldnâ€™t be scaling the Grand Canyon, but heâ€™s little and Iâ€™m a mother and those things make me worry. So I placed a protective spell on him to ensure his safety while he was gone.

On the other hand, I have sometimes found myself in a vacant parking garage or walking down a city street at night and while I donâ€™t have any logical reason to be afraid, I will sometimes do a quick protective spell around myself to make sure that I make it back in one piece.

There are also protective spells that you can do on your home. These are particularly useful if youâ€™re moving into a new place or if your place has negative energy that you want to get rid of. Burning sage is a simple technique that can help you wash out the negative vibes. Just donâ€™t forget to do the corners because pesky spirits like to hang out there.

Sometimes, if the energy is very bad, youâ€™ll have to do it more than once. And there are still times when someone might enter your house with less than honorable intentions. But with a protective spell you can hopefully take the power of some of those intentions away.

There are some people that have protective symbols that they wear either on a daily basis or when they need a little something extra. A friend of mine has a pentagram necklace that she wears when she is feeling like she needs some extra help. I have a ring that I wear on occasion for the same reason. For you, it might be a scarf, hat, bracelet, or even a pair of shoes.

The important thing to remember when wearing something like this is that a lot of the energy comes from you and not always from the actual item itself. You should really do protective rituals on it from time to time to ensure that it continues to maintain its power.

If you are out walking down the street and feel a little uneasy, then you donâ€™t have to stop in the middle of what youâ€™re doing, bring out the crystals and the incense, and perform a ritual right there on the sidewalk. Instead, you can quickly imagine a powerful white light filled with love, safety, and positive energy around you. This might take a bit of control, but itâ€™s also very helpful in warding off negative energy that might be coming your way.

When youâ€™re doing a protective spell, you want to be very careful that you place the emphasis on good and not evil. So what do I mean by this? Well, you donâ€™t want to toss the bad stuff onto someone else. For instance, you donâ€™t want to wish safety to one person by hoping that the bad stuff instead happens to someone else.

As with anything else, there is only so much that you can actually control. If something bad does occur, itâ€™s no reflection of your power or an indication that you did something wrong. Unfortunately, bad things will still happen from time to time and in many instances they were out of our control.

I look at a protective spell like I do a seatbelt. Itâ€™s better to have one on and offer yourself some protection than to not wear one and suffer the consequences.

Here is hoping that all of your loved ones remain safe, secure, and loved.

Brightest blessings,

Rose Ariadne

Your Warm And Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”

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